Doncaster Rovers: Dickov hoping for more fringe benefits

Paul Goodwin

Theo Robinson, Harry Forrester and Dean Furman all came off the bench at Crewe on Saturday to good effect, injecting some energy into Rovers which ultimately helped them grab a late equaliser.

With the help of their substitutes, Rovers have come from a goal down in each of their last three league games on the road to claim seven points out of a possible nine.

Rovers have not been short of scorers off the bench this season either - Robinson becoming the latest super sub at Rochdale. And Dickov says keeping his fringe players happy is a vital part of his day-to-day management.

“The spirit’s fantastic here, I’ve always said that,” Dickov said. “The players that aren’t in the team back the ones that are playing one hundred per cent, and vice versa.

“It’s more important sometimes to look after the players who aren’t in the team a little bit more than the ones that are - and keep them going.

“If they come on and make an impression like they have done, it’s good for me. It gives me a problem, but it’s a great problem to have.”

Robinson, Forrester and Furman are pushing Nathan Tyson, Kyle Bennett and Paul Keegan for starting berths at Barnsley tonight after making a positive impact from the bench at Crewe.

“We said to all three of them just before they went on to go and give some energy and a bit of a spark,” said Dickov.

“And I thought Theo, Harry and Dean all did that.

“That’s what you want.

“You want players who are hungry to get on the pitch. You want them to be disappointed that they’re left out, but you them to come on and make an impression in the game too.

“They contributed massively to us getting back in the game on Saturday.”